Patience and Courage - Ananta RPKM

Hope in the guise of the Maths Teacher 

Patience is one of the principal abilities of a teacher. Patience while encouraging and explaining topics to the students gives them a sense of courage and the belief that they can achieve anything. 

The same thing happened to me when I was appointed as a maths teacher in one of the schools on the outskirts of my town. 

On the first day, I introduced myself to the students and asked them to introduce themselves. Every child enthusiastically introduced himself, but one child caught my eye. He neither introduced himself nor was he curious to know about the subject. 

I noticed that he used to copy all the digits in reverse. For almost a week, I observed him, and then I understood he was suffering from dyslexia. His parents were illiterate and didn't know what the issue was with their child. 

As a teacher, I wanted to give colours to that boy's hands so that he could colour his life. 

I tried to speak with him, but he didn't talk to me. It took me another week to break the ice. Then, one day, in a playful manner, I tried to teach him about letters and digits. I tutored him during the extra periods and sometimes after school. After 2 months of practice, he finally started to improve.

I used to encourage him to participate in different extracurricular activities too. After my constant upliftment, he showed courage and participated in an inter-school debate competition. He was very nervous, but I motivated him that he could do everything he wanted to. He stepped on the stage, and with all his might, he gave his best. He didn't win, but everyone was surprised and appreciated his improvement. 

After that, he gained confidence and started performing well in academics. It took six months of patience and courage to make him what he is now. I was so overjoyed, as if I were the one who passed with flying colours. That time, I understood how a teacher's attitude towards students can mould their lives. 

Ananta @ RPK Moradabad, India

Bhawna Arora, Parul, Poonam Mehra, Ashita, Rajni Mehra, Neha, Anshika, Asha Mamgain

 

 

YES Centre Manager- Manish Chandel of Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS) shares the impact of the Award Programme in PYDS Community

"As I was walking around our school on last Saturday. I saw different groups of students busy in various activities. As I passed our staffroom, I was able to smell some cookies being baked. I peeped inside and saw a group of 6 students, along with their mentor busy with newly bought Micro-wave oven, trying to bake some thing. Excitement on their faces was proving that they are going to gain a success. Actually it was the baking class for our IAYP students who opted cooking as a skill for their program. Another group of students was ready to move to nearby village ‘Jaspur’ carrying sacks in their hands with a mission to clean this village and its surroundings. They are also trying to make it completely plastic free in next 4 months. On every Sunday IAYP group can also be seen on our school’s playground trying to enhance their skills in various sports, under the guidance of our sports teacher.

All these students undergoing IAYP program are full of enthusiasm and passion to prove them. Their confidence has boomed after returning from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), made possible by the Award Programme Foundation Trustees' Support. Really now our center is looking ‘YES Centre’ (Youth Engaging Society Centre). Earlier students were in doubt, that how it would be possible for them to undergo expeditions or adventures as you already know that for our students even going to Dehradun is a big task, because of their limited resources .Even though they are getting wonderful opportunities and exposure because of our friends Like IAYP and many others who provides them a chance to challenge the mainstreams.

 Very soon number of IAYP students from our centre will be double. Also I would like to thank Swamy sir who has taken a keen interest in this program and has given us full liberty to ensure the success of this program. His valuable ideas are always there to guide us and also he is arranging professionals to guide our students in enhancing their various skills like photography, baking etc.

Even our teachers who are linked with this program have got chance to develop in various aspects of life and more important becoming a part of such youthful program is making us all feel like a teenager.

- Manish Chandel, PYDS YES Manager

Photo: PYDS Archives 

Australian Sports Outreach Programme (ASOP) and IAYP India partner to Engage Youth in Society through Sport

Formally launched in India on 07 Oct 2010 by Australian Minister for Sport Senator- the Hon. Mark Arbib against the backdrop of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, ASOP India will use sport for development as an exciting way of strengthening relationships between Australia and India while fostering both sporting and life skills in marginalised children and youth.

Designed around the three core areas of Communicate, Connect and Collaborate, ASOP India will be implemented through five selected agencies: Magic Bus, Special Olympics Bharat, Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India), Goa Football Association and Naz Foundation (India) Trust. These organisations focus on social mobilisation through inclusive participation of disadvantaged communities in quality sport.

The 3-year IAYP India and ASOP India partnership will focus on Youth and Sports and engage the young people in ASOP Partners to participate in the Award Programme. Under the ASOP-IAYP partnership, sports coach trainers, mentors, peer leaders and volunteer community sports coaches from marginalised communities, who work with the 5 existing ASOP India partner agencies, will be facilitated to undertake the Award program, in order to incentivise and reward their spirit of volunteerism. They will undergo character and skill building experiences they would never normally encounter, leading to enhanced individual motivation. Pursuing the certified standards of bronze, silver and gold over a time span, they will grow as individuals, become better coaches and eventually qualify as IAYP trainers authorised to deliver and certify the Award program amongst the youth communities they work with, through Open Award Centres (OAC) and Youth Engaging Society (YES) Centres.

Without losing the spirit of volunteerism, the IAYP set of standards (bronze, silver, gold) involving character building activities will not only round off their existing skills, but also provide great motivation and recognition of their commitment to the young Sport Coaches. Motivating the enthusiastic Community Sports Coaches (CSCs) of the ASOP Project to engage in the Award Programme and thus be recognised for their dedication to their communities in the first year of the partnership. Special focus will be given to providing the CSCs with employment / vocational skills in their respective areas in addition to ensuring that their Expeditions and Residential Project experience is different and enriching.

Apply for the Global Changemakers Asia Youth Summit

British Council India will be hosting the first ever Global Changemakers Asia Youth Summit in July 17-23. 60 young social entrepreneurs and community activists (54 from Asia and up to 6 from the UK) will be chosen to attend -- full details on the attached 1-pager. For more details go to http://www.global-changemakers.net/uncategorized/asia-youth-summit-2011-call-for-applications.

Vote now

IAYP, India asked The Award Programme, has it finally taken off in India?

Thanks,
Sandeep Dutt
National Director

YES News monthly launched

What is Youth Engaging Society (YES)?

Youth Engaging Society or YES is the way to go for fostering youth involvement in our country. The YES movement allows schools, colleges and Award units in different parts of the country to open their walls to the community around them. This allows integration of youth energy from the society through participation in the Award Programme.

We would like to welcome all our Award Operators in India, to work with us to further the goals of The Award Programme, and work to ‘Equip for Life’, young people in our society. IAYP today connects young people from all walks of life; the well off schools, the colleges, the social organisations, business and voluntary bodies, all work to help youth engage effectively with society. The four sections of Adventure, Service, Skills, Sports and Residential Projects for Gold all have the society at the core, and thus this campaign for YES.

Award Programme Foundation Trust operates the IAYP in India and aims to make this a premier youth programme for inclusive social development, as per the aims of the National Youth Policy. The Award Programme is delivered to the schools through our partner Zones, for more do visit our website www.iayp.in.

To celebrate the spirit of the youth and help build The Award Programme, the National Award Authority (NAA) works to promote, provide and preserve The Programme. The NAA Office was set up in 2010 and has since been working tirelessly to raise the profile of IAYP, publishing Award India, e-newsletter The Award Weekly, road shows and events. We now introduce the monthly YES News for our Operating Units and partners. The monthly A4 single sheet, will focus on highlighting the new systems and help administer the IAYP more effectively, keeping in mind the needs of quality with a quest for numbers too. The Programme is open to young people from 14 to 25 years of age, without any discrimination.

We will be happy to receive feedback and share resources with the Award Units and Partners, please do write in to us, and most important do keep up the volunteer spirit to help build the trust of the youth in India.

Sandeep Dutt

National Director

CSR and the need of the hour

NEW DELHI: Amid the debate over making it mandatory for companies to spend at least 2 per cent of profits on CSR activities, RIL Chairman and India's wealthiest person Mukesh Ambani today suggested improving corporate social responsibility to Continuous Social Business.

"The purpose of any business cannot be only profit. Profit for the shareholders is important. But unless entrepreneurs have a larger purpose and businesses that change lives of millions of people, a sustainable business cannot be created," he said at FICCI's Annual General Meeting here.

"We will have to move from a model of Corporate Social Responsibility to a model of Continuous Social Business through enterprise and entrepreneurship," he said. "For that, we will have to create world class institutions with a soul."

"It is important to get the business of businesses right," he said, adding that the primary responsibility of business is social improvement.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has proposed that companies should spend at least 2 per cent of their annual profits on CSR activities, but the industry has opposed the proposal.

Calling for increased spends from the government in healthcare and education, Ambani said that outlays in healthcare formed only 1 per cent of India's GDP, which he said needs to grow at least five-folds.

"Our demographic dividend, the youth and the young, are largely unprotected and uncared for. We will need to radically transform healthcare delivery to all our people," he said.

"Current food prices justify heavy investment and job creation has to be through agriculture and rural economic growth," Ambani said. He foresees an additional $ 500 billion opportunity for India in agriculture output.

The opportunity in Indian agriculture is as big as it is in energy, he said, adding that the country needs more policies like the liberalisation policy of 1991.

Stating that a large untapped opportunity existed for India to boost its under-leveraged consumer class, Ambani said the country's per capita income is less than $ 1000, one-third of China, while its per capita energy consumption is minuscule.

"Less than 1 per cent of our population uses credit cards for transactions and consumer loans are about 10 per cent of the total loan disbursals, representing an under-leveraged consumer class," Ambani said.

He said that India has grossly under-performed both in expanding access and improving the quality of education.

"In a fast moving world, we have not managed to make our education system contemporary," he said.

From The Economic Times

Introducing Dhruv Bahl as Intern of the Month for January 2011

Dhruv has been an Intern at the Award Office since 29th November 2010. A Bronze Award participant, Dhruv brings fresh energy and professionalism to Preserve the Award Programme in India. Currently a student of Bachelors of Financial and Investment Analysis at the Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi; Dhruv aspires to be an investment banker.

An integral member of the Office Team, Dhruv is now heading the Gold Internship Programme project. The Gold Internship Programme or GIP aims to give Gold Award Holders the much sought after exposure in a working environment. The GIP will place interested Gold Award Holders in internship programmes with partner companies. Dhruv believes that the GIP will address the "Life after Gold" issue for Gold Holders by providing them a platform to receive professional practical training and also allow them to promote the Award actively.

In the month of January, Dhruv has successfully completed and sent license agreements to Award Partners and provided exemplary support to the Award Database Management Systems. Through the learnings from his brief internship with the Design Team at Ernst and Young, Dhruv has contributed to design and communication needs too.

In his leisure time, he reads non-fiction books, works out and listens to music.

Purkal Youth Development Society - Creating change agents in Rural India

The Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS) is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of disadvantaged rural youth through education and empowering women through skill development.

The PYDS program dates back to 1998, when GK Swamy first started tutoring four young students in English and Mathematics in his home. Mr. Swamy with his friends found several sponsors who were willing to fund their formal education and these four children were enrolled into a local English Medium Secondary School. The number of children seeking help swelled and in 2001, 29 students were participating in the sponsorship scheme and coming to Mr. Swamy’s house after school.

Formally launched in 2003, PYDS has grown rapidly and today has over 215 children under its care. Accommodation has moved from the Swamy’s house to a custom-built school campus in 2005.

PYDS provides young people in the rural community around to quality education, mentoring and learning, thus providing hope and control to become of transformational change in their society. This simple effort to provide at least these few underprivileged young people a healthy learning environment, no different from that available at many good schools in India. Young people get a sense of self – esteem and confidence to learn and excel, realize that poverty is nothing to be ashamed of and that they should respect and honor the culture and parentage that they come from. By helping them develop their inner talents and build confidence in their self, PYDS allows young people to overcome such barriers and reach their potential.

PYDS and Young adults: PYDS are committed to helping young adults discover talents and in providing for college education and work experience. Through vocational training and english speaking classes, PYDS successfully provides young adults to acquire knowledge and professional skill to leading professionals in the global market place.

PYDS believes that by strengthening capacities of young peoplethe youth in the community, generations of educated and healthy families can be created in the rural Uttaranchal region.

Most of the parents in this community are barely literate. None of them, even the wealthy few in the village, have had the advantage of a good education. They have therefore little idea of what education means and what it can do to change lives. Sadly, few parents are involved with the lives of their children. In this scenario, we are attempting to provide the example and mentorship that educated parents of successful children provide their children.

We believe that the capability of the families and the community also has an influence on the shaping of the individual. Highly educated and well-placed family and community members can raise the aspirations of future generations. They also act as mentors and role models, and can provide the influence that is often required to help their community access services and a good standard of living. The absence of these influences has made a significant difference in career achievements in this poor community.

Click know what young people at PYDS have to say.